Protecting cap



E. M'AURO PROTEGTIN'G GAP June 10,` 1947.

Filed Aug. 11', 1944 Y W mm w MJ m F ma A Patented June 10,, 1947 z,4zz,116

UNITED* Js'l'A'rEs PATENT `Tori-"ICE W PROTECTING GAP Eugene Mauro, New York, N. Y.

Application August 11, 1944, Serial No. 549,023

1 Claim.

I have invented an improvement in caps for baseball players; and more particularly a protective cap adapted to be worn by a batsman to prevent injury if he is hit on the head with a ball thrown by the pitcher.

An object of the invention is to provide a head-protecting cap designed to give a shielding effect, and enable a batter to take his stand at the home plate with a feeling of safety and complete confidence.

Another object is to provide a ballplayer's protective cap which is light and simple Iin construction, inexpensive to produce, and easy to wear. It comprises a cap with an internal reinforcing member at each side in two parts; one of which is strong and rigid and shaped to fit the side of the head, while the other has the form of a resilient'or cushioning lining to enable the cap to be worn with comfort and serve as a pad for the first part.

The objects and advantages of the invention are more fully set forth in the ensuing description and drawings, and the novel features of the improvement are defined in the appended claim. The details, however, and the arrangement of parts and members may be changed, without altering the essential Character of the invention or exceeding the scope and meanings of the terms in which the claim is expressed.

On said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a head protecting cap broken away and partly in section according to this invention; and

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

The cap is shown at I, with a visor 2 for the eyes. It is made of any suitable cloth or the like, and has an inside band 3' around the rim, stitched into place as indicated at 4. At each side on the interior is a protective member comprising a piece of fibre 5 with a cushion or pad 6 on its inner face. This cushion may be felt or rubber or some other material having the necessary physical properties to make the cup comfortable and increase the protective effect..

The element 6 is secured to the fibre 5 by stitching or gluing; and the fibre elements 5, which are generally semi-circular in Outline, are strong and curved to agree with the contour of the outside of the head of the wearer; being concave on one face and convex on the other or outer face. Each protective member is put into place by inserting the lower or straight edge behind the band 3 on both sides of the cap, and glued or stitched as indicated at 1. The cap, with these members or shields at both sides enables the user to face the pitcher without fear of getting hurt, even when the ball comes straight at his cranium. i

Each of the protective members made of fibre and a lining is strong and stiff enough to stop a baseball flying at high speed without any injurious impact or shock to the player, even if the ball should strike 'the head squarely.

The drawings shown the cushions 6 projecting beyond the upper rounded edges of the fiberparts 5. This is an important feature because the wearer's head is thus protected against injuy along the curved edges of the fiber parts in case the ball should strike near the top thereof. Also the straight lower edges of the cushions are not quite flush with the lower straight edges of the fiber parts, but are a bit higher so as to give a somewhat Ibevelled instead of a shouldered fit of the band along the lower edges of the fiber members and pads 6. The wear of the band 3 is thus reduced. f

The protector cap shown and described herein can be turned out at very low cost and is light but effective, so that it will fully safeguard but never handicap the player wearing it. The invention is not limited to the precise design presented. In practice the device may be altered in various ways consistent with the real nature of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

A ball player's protective cap of cloth having a visor at the front and a band inside around the rim, said cap containingfibre reinforcing comprising a rigid member at each side, said members each having a lining of thick cushioning material secured to its inner face, the lower edge of said members and said linings being substantially straight and covered by said band, said members and said linings being fastened to said cap at each side adjacent said lower edge, said members with said linings being concave to conform both horizontally and vertically to the shape of the head when the cap is placed thereon, and having a curved upper edge extending from end to end of the straight lower edge, the members being of sufficient height and width to shield the sides of the head under said cap, the curved upper edges of the linings extending beyond the cunred upper edges of the fiber members to protest the wearers head against the said edges, and the lower straight edges of the lining being slightly above the lower straight edges Vof the fiber members beneath the bandV of said cap to permit the band to present a bevelled lower edge of the head of the wearer.

MAURo REFERENCES CITED I`he following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name f Date Dandy Nov. 9, 1943 OTI-IER REI'IE}1-``.ENC ]ESVV Publication, New York Times (sports section 5), published Sunday, March 9, 1941, firstv and Number 15 pages 22 and 24,respectively.` 

